FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[DesertLynx]

DPU

"DPU is really banged up, and missing some key players on offense."

#1 I enjoyed your broadcast from the other side of the world.

#2 RC is missing their starting QB and most productive WR.  They are banged up.

DL

[DPU_radio_guy]

I think that was part of the reason that the game was so low scoring.  Both teams were without arguably their best player (Marks for DPU & Bozant for Rhodes).  Plus, these are two pretty good defenses.  Both are in the top 3 in the conference in nearly every defensive category.  It's no knock on Rhodes, they did play a good football game.  DPU had the momentum (and field position) after the Hertel INT, and scored the only TD of the game.

[dpuinaz]

Sounds like Rhodes is a squad similar to some of ours in years past.  I remember some years where we served as wake-up calls for lots of ranked teams but weren't able to finish.  They've got a decent squad, but probably couldn't really be called a solid unit yet.  It'll happen, though.

How's this weekend's game vs. Centre looking, Radio?  Centre was always a VERY tough team when I was there; what's their squad like these days?

[evacuee]

Centre is always in the top half of the conference, but every time they play Trinity, they find out how far they are from being a playoff caliber team.  They have gone into the game with the Tigers undefeated or with one loss more than once in the last few years and have just gotten scorched.  Against the rest of the conference, they usually seem to be a few steps ahead.  I believe that this year they aren't doing as well, but they're a good opponent whether they win or lose.  In 2000, they gave Trinity their first conference loss in three years with a last second touchdown. 

They haven't come close since. 

[dpuinaz]

Centre is always in the top half of the conference, but every time they play Trinity, they find out how far they are from being a playoff caliber team.  They have gone into the game with the Tigers undefeated or with one loss more than once in the last few years and have just gotten scorched.  Against the rest of the conference, they usually seem to be a few steps ahead.  I believe that this year they aren't doing as well, but they're a good opponent whether they win or lose.  In 2000, they gave Trinity their first conference loss in three years with a last second touchdown. 

They haven't come close since. 

Quick question --

Does anyone have a commentary about Centre that doesn't actually have more to do with Trinity than it does the Colonels?  How about a little info on the Kentucky school's squad?  No offense to you Texans, but I've already heard a little bit about you guys on this board...

[tTU719803]

Does anyone have a commentary about Centre that doesn't actually have more to do with Trinity than it does the Colonels?  How about a little info on the Kentucky school's squad?  No offense to you Texans, but I've already heard a little bit about you guys on this board...

It's not our fault that we are the only school with fans who actually post here!   

[DPU_radio_guy]

I think Centre looks (on paper) like the Centre from a couple of years ago.  They had a pretty bad year last year, but they look like a good football team.   They've got a great record, and some Sewanee fans told me that if the Colonels weren't REALLY injured when they went up on the mountain a couple weeks ago, they'd be 7-0 and the conference leader right now.  I don't know if that's true, but it might be worth noting.

They did beat an OK Wash & Lee team, and if your an NCAC fan, you'll note that they beat a Kenyon team that might just be atop that conference at season's end.  (It's a joke.. I'm kidding..I know.. Kenyon isn't playing Wabash or Witt...I got it..thanks)

With all that being said, they are playing Trinity.  Two years ago, Centre went into San Antonio with the same 6-1 record and got taken to the barn by a 52-7 count.  I think it will be closer than that this year, and if the Trinity team shows up that showed up against Huntingdon, it might be close.  

I don't own any Centre shirts or pennants, but I'm really tempted to buy some on ebay.  Come on Colonels.

Also DPU/Millsaps at 12:30 Saturday. www.wgre.org

[tTU719803]

Centre came closer than the score indicated last year.  They were up 12 I believe when that LB returned a pick for a TD, but they never scored again.  That last TD when the Tigers were trying to run out the clock made it look a little worse than it was.

Centre seems to be running the ball better this season than in years past.  Should be an interesting matchup on Saturday between the Black Flag and the Centre O.

[tTU719803]

...if the Trinity team shows up that showed up against Huntingdon, it might be close.  

The Trinity team that showed up against Huntingdon played their best football of the year.  Centre better hope that team doesn't show up!  You seriously underestimate Huntingdon.

[DPU_radio_guy]

Perhaps my word selection should not have been "team", and instead should have been "offense".

I certainly do not underestimate Huntingdon, sir.  I know Huntingdon is a good football team.  I think Huntingdon had a better chance to beat Trinity than any other team that they have played/will play in the regular season.  That being said, Trinity had a relatively hard time (for Trinity) moving the football.  Can somebody tell me the last time Trinity had less than 200 passing yards in back-to-back games?  Of course, I haven't seen TU this year, and in the post-Dan DesPlains era, things may be different.  I think Centre would LOVE to hold Trinity to 15 points.  Just about any team in the country couldn't be happier to hold TU to 15. 

It will be interesting to see how Centre's O holds up against the TU D.  Most years, not a lot of teams would want to get into a shootout with Trinity.  Again, not having seen the Texas Tigers this year, it's hard telling whether or not that would be a good thing for Centre.

I still don't know what to make of Trinity.  Maybe they're a defensive-oriented team all of the sudden.

In case you non-Trinity folk are curious, I struck out on ebay looking for a Centre shirt.

[Ralph Turner]

Austin College held TU to 14.

[tTU719803]

Coming into the year, everyone thought that the offense would have to carry the defense for a while while all the new starters on that side of the ball learned the ropes.  But it has been the other way around.  The defense has carried the offense at times (TLU, Huntingdon).  From what I've heard from the players, the Austin game would have been lopsided if not for turnovers in the red zone by the Tigers.

TU is not getting the insane stats of the past partly due to the loss of a real burner at WR like they've had in the past (Brailsford, Urban), in my opinion.  I can't really see anyone on this team with that kind of speed who also has such soft hands like those 2 did.  Hicks has that speed, but they never send him deep.  They also have been playing more ball control offense lately, running the ball over 40 times a game.  The TU offense has ony had 18 posessions (9 per game, which is unusual) in the past 2 games, and seem to be playing clock control rather than the air-it-out "score as quick as we can" approach in years past.  They are still moving the ball effectively, but it just takes longer to get down the field than in years past.  Couple that with an EXTREMELY athletic Huntingdon defense, and we all saw the result.  Thank the defense for that win!

[Ron Boerger]

That being said, Trinity had a relatively hard time (for Trinity) moving the football.  Can somebody tell me the last time Trinity had less than 200 passing yards in back-to-back games? 

It will be interesting to see how Centre's O holds up against the TU D.  Most years, not a lot of teams would want to get into a shootout with Trinity.  Again, not having seen the Texas Tigers this year, it's hard telling whether or not that would be a good thing for Centre.

Good thoughts, Radio Guy.  Thanks for being our Centre rep by proxy.  

TU seems more defensively focused this season, true, and they do have a new defensive coordinator.   At the same time, remember that (a) TU did have to go with a second-string QB in the entire second half against Huntingdon, mandating a more conservative passing approach, and (b) the game plan against an extremely quick Hawk secondary (which had 11 INTs in the four games before facing Trinity) was to throw short passes underneath the coverage.  At least, that's what I got out of listening to the game.  

It does seem that the Trinity passing juggernaut has been sent to the sidelines for the season.  The only big passing game the Tigers had was against TLU in week 2.  I was there; the TLU defenders were really jamming at the line of scrimmage, but the OL protection was excellent and gave Cannon the time to wait for his receivers to break open deep.  Coach Mohr said that the game plan was to take what the coverage was giving.   In the other games, Trinity has been making a concerted effort to run the ball. 

Centre likes to run the ball.  Adam Blandford has already been named SCAC Offensive PoTW twice and had over 220 yards last week alone.   Huntingdon, too, was a run-oriented team but did not have a back like Blandford.  If TU can contain Blandford (as it contained RHIT's Charley Key, the SCAC leading rusher) it will force Kevin Phelps to throw the ball more.  Phelps is a competent QB (second to Cannon in passing efficiency) who averages about 140 yards in the air and completes around half his passes.   The net is an offense that is scoring around 30 points per game, leading the SCAC.  

Defensively, the Colonels are a little more suspect and are allowing about 180 yards per game both on the ground and through the air.  Trinity's run defense has been quite good (under 90 yds/game) but the Black Flag has allowed ~200 yds/game through the air.   Centre LB Matt Johnson leads the conference with nearly 12 tackles per game; fellow LB Adam Hay is just outside the top ten with 7.1.  Jacob Coleman has broken up ten passes and intercepted two.  

Centre, like Trinity, is +3 in turnovers this season.

OBTW, Radio Guy, you can get your Centre t-shirt here!  

[exmajor]

It's not our fault that we are the only school with fans who actually post here!   

I beg to differ on that

[tTU719803]

OK, maybe I exaggerated a little 

What's the word on Millsaps?  I thought they would be a force to reckon with after last seasons success.